(CKBW News file photo)
Recreational marijuana sales at Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation cannabis stores fell below estimates since legalization in October.
The NSLC released year-end results today from April 1, 2018 to March 31 of this year.
There was $33.2 million in cannabis sales racked up, less than projections, due to a delay in the role-out of legalization and issues in the supply chain.
NSLC spokesperson Beverley Ware says that situation has improved greatly.
“A great deal of credit goes to local cannabis producers both here in Nova Scotia and also in the Maritimes. They’ve been a tremendous help in providing us with products that our customers want and reliably providing us with supply.”
Total sales were up 5.8 per cent to $662.1 million, with $628.9 million in alcohol sales.
In a release the NSLC says the growth in local beverage alcohol product categories continues to be strong. Nova Scotia ready-to-drink sales, which are mostly ciders, were up 80.9 per cent to $7.8 million while craft beer sales were up 27.3 per cent to $16.7 million. Nova Scotia spirit sales grew by 28.5 per cent to $7.8 million while Nova Scotia wine sales, using locally grown grapes, were up by 2.5 per cent to $11.7 million.
Compared to the previous fiscal year, net income for the NSLC was $237 million, down $1.2 million, while total sales were up by $36.4 million to $662.1 million.
Ware says that was due to costs associated with preparing stores for cannabis sales.
